Help, My Son Is A Lefty! — A Look At Some Of The Best Destro Watches From Tudor, Panerai, Rolex, And More
No, I didn’t buy any specific watches when my son and daughter were born. But now that I have a few watches, I do enjoy the idea of handing them both down a watch when they’re older. I’m not sure exactly which watches yet, but for my daughter, it will probably be one of the smaller ones. For my son, though, it might be a little more challenging because, as it turns out, he seems to be left-handed. I’m not saying he isn’t able to wear any of my sinistra watches, but he might prefer a dedicated destro model. That’s why today I’m taking a look at the best watches out there with the crown on the left side of the case.
My dad is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to which side he uses for what. He taught himself to write with his right hand. However, when I would play football or ping pong with him, he would always use his left foot or hand. I am fully right-handed, just like my wife and our daughter are, but our son does everything with the left side of his body. He’s turning four years old soon, so I think we can safely conclude by now that he’s a lefty. So let’s take a look at some of the best destro watches out there and see which one would suit him best.
Panerai Luminor 1950 PAM00557 Destro 3 Days
One of the watches that immediately jumped to my mind is the 47mm Panerai Luminor 1950 PAM00557 Destro 3 Days. That might have something to do with Thomas’s recent acquisition. When I looked at the Panerai website, though, I saw that there are no destro watches listed in the brand’s current collection. There are, however, a bunch of them available on Chrono24 for about €6,500. And that is probably even the better way to go because buying a Panerai at full retail isn’t the best idea. I’m just not sure whether my son would enjoy such a big watch on his wrist.
He’s the kind of boy who can’t sit still and is constantly looking for the next thing to climb on. I’m sure he’ll become more relaxed with age, but I don’t think a 47mm Luminor would suit his wrist, especially if it’s anything like my 17cm one. I do agree with Thomas that Panerai offers something very different from other watches. Like him, I would also opt for a Panerai with as few complications as possible. But maybe I should look for something smaller and a bit more classic first instead of going for such a quirky left-hand giant right away.
Rolex GMT-Master II 126720VTNR
Probably the most famous destro watch of recent years is the Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 126720VTNR. People were very surprised when this GMT-Master II with a black and green bezel saw the light about a year and a half ago. But why wouldn’t Rolex make a specific watch for the lefties, who make up about 10% of the world’s population? I do agree with many others that it seemed to come out of nowhere, but it’s a good-looking GMT-Master II nonetheless, especially on a Jubilee bracelet. Besides, it’s a much more classic-looking watch than the PAM00557.
At its retail price of €11,400, isn’t even out of this world. Unfortunately, I probably will never be able to get it at that price. On the pre-owned market, the 126720VTNR is selling for a little more than €20,000. I don’t think I’m able to swallow such a premium for that watch, even if it might be worth a lot more whenever Rolex discontinues it. The other thing I’m a bit concerned about is safety. You hear a lot of stories about Rolex watches being robbed off of people’s wrists. I wouldn’t want my son to become the victim of such an act.
Tudor Pelagos LHD M25610TNL-0001
The more sane option here might be the Tudor Pelagos LHD ref. M25610TNL-0001. It’s a bit less desirable than the GMT-Master II and retails for €5,010. Besides, this watch already debuted back in 2016, so you might even be able to get a decent discount if you ask for it. Apart from all those benefits, though, it’s also one of the most “toolish” watches in the Tudor collection. It’s made from titanium and should be able to go as deep as 500 meters underwater, so you really can take this one anywhere. And that’s exactly what it looks like — a watch that wants to be worn under any condition.
In addition, its (semi-in-house) movement is a COSC-certified chronometer, and the watch has one of the best and most impressive bracelet extensions I’ve seen. I also adore the square hour markers that eat into the rehaut and the red “Pelagos” text. It’s a no-nonsense sports watch, and I think that’s exactly what my son would need as his first serious watch. However, €5,000 is still a lot of money, and I’m not even sure if he’s into watches yet. Maybe it’s a good idea to look at some more affordable options first and see if he likes those.
More affordable destro watches
I know Yema just introduced a destro version of its Superman 500. It’s a limited edition of 250 pieces and sells for €1,299. Just like the Pelagos LHD, it should be able to withstand water pressure to 500 meters, and it comes with Yema’s signature bezel lock. Another brand that offers destro versions of its watches is Serica. When you buy any of the brand’s watches, you can choose whether you want the crown at 3 or 9 o’clock. I think that’s a very smart and inclusive way for a brand to offer its watches. In addition to that, Serica watches look great and don’t cost the world.
I’m already tempted to get my son one of those destro 4512 field watches with a funky California dial for €690. It might be a bit of a hassle for him to wind that manual movement every day, though. In that case, the new Jacques Bianchi JB200 Poulpro might be a nice option. It sells for almost the same price but does come with an automatic movement, a date window, and a quirky octopus on the dial.
Which one would you choose?
As you can see, there are quite a few nice destro watches out there. I might wait a little longer, though, until my son gets a bit older before I buy him anything specific. Which of the watches above would you choose for your son or perhaps even for yourself? Let me know in the comments below. And if I’ve missed any nice options, make sure to let me know as well.
